AccScience Publishing / AC / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/AC025040005
ARTICLE

Protection and immersive experience of cultural heritage in the digital age: Technological empowerment, spatial reproduction, and future risks

Wen Wen1* Xiangmeng Wang2 Ziwen Ye3
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1 Undergraduate Office, China Architecture Design and Research Group, Beijing, China
2 Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
3 Department of Design, College of Art and Media, Tongji University School, Shanghai, China
Received: 22 January 2025 | Revised: 22 April 2025 | Accepted: 27 April 2025 | Published online: 18 June 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

Cultural heritage serves as a vital foundation for preserving collective memory and shaping social identity, as it embodies the shared history, values, and traditions of a community. Technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) are more often used in heritage preservation and tourism in the digital era, thus changing how people engage with and perceive the past. This paper uses the theory of space production to examine how immersive experiences across three interconnected dimensions – physical space, mental space, and social space – reproduce cultural heritage. Drawing on chosen case studies, the study shows that digital technology can enhance the sensory and emotional involvement of visitors, encourage participatory cultural expression, and assist the revival of local culture and urban memory. By connecting historical stories with modern audiences, immersive technologies produce dynamic exchanges between tradition and innovation. The article also discusses the issues facing digital reproduction as well, such as worries about authenticity, cultural uniformity, and possible marginalization of local voices. This paper offers an integrated framework connecting technology mediation, spatial transformation, and cultural sustainability to balance invention with cultural integrity. The framework provides an understanding of how immersive digital practices could be tools for social empowerment and heritage interpretation. In the end, this article underlines the need of striking a balance between technological progress and the preservation of cultural diversity and authenticity by stressing the role of digital media in transforming cultural settings. It also adds to the ongoing discourse on this topic.

Keywords
Cultural heritage
Space production
Immersive experience
Digital technology
Cultural reproduction
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Arts & Communication, Electronic ISSN: 2972-4090 Published by AccScience Publishing